About

Van Ness is a unique neighborhood, combining the convenience of Metro access and urban amenities, with the beauty and serenity of Soapstone Valley and Rock Creek Park. Apartment dwellers and single family home residents alike are drawn to an easy commute, numerous retail options, a safe and family-friendly atmosphere with smart and engaged citizens, and stunning hiking trails. This community values and aims to preserve its natural resources but enthusiastically embraces smart, transit-oriented development.

The corridor includes both a neighborhood retail center and a regional institutional cluster. Van Ness is home to the University of the District of Columbia, including its gorgeous Theater of the Arts, UDC School of Law, Howard University School of Law, Howard School of Divinity, American University Radio WAMU (ranked number one in Washington), The International Chancery Center with dozens of Embassies, and the Levine School of Music.

Fifty years ago the Van Ness Commercial District transitioned from a federal campus to an office district when the Bureau of Standards vacated their Van Ness facility. This change was driven by a growing suburban population and planning for the Metro Rail System.

Today, Van Ness is at another inflection point where increased demand for transit-oriented housing and a preference for downtown office space is creating new and exciting opportunities for the future of Van Ness.

A Walk
It all started with a walk in October 2012 with the DC Office of Planning and the Coalition for Smarter Growth, when a group of over 100 neighbors gathered on a bitterly cold day to stroll the Van Ness/Connecticut Avenue corridor and identify what works and what doesn’t work. Most comments that day focused on the negative: too much concrete, dated architecture, a need for more trees and low impact design, and a sense that retail was under performing. But the message from that walk was clear: while the Van Ness commercial corridor is underachieving, it possesses enormous potential, and neighbors will work tirelessly to make it better.

Van Ness Vision Committee
The idea for the Van Ness Vision Committee (VNVC) evolved from that desire. The VNVC was formed by unanimous resolution at the ANC 3F meeting on February 19, 2013. The purpose of the ad hoc committee was to build momentum in the community to work together with commercial property owners, businesses, schools, city agencies and others to make our stretch of Connecticut Avenue more beautiful and more vibrant.

The diverse membership of the VNVC met over 20 times, often including representatives of UDC, WAMU, commercial property owners and merchants, city agencies and the city council. Two design charrettes were held to encourage community input for a town hub at Windom. The ANC hired neighbor and architect Travis Price to design the hub. Two meet and greets invited stakeholders and communicated goals.

Van Ness Main Street
The work of the Vision Committee highlighted the need to create an organization to implement and manage the work, which led to the Main Streets model. Van Ness Main Streets incorporated in March 2015. Van Ness Main Street builds on the work of VNVC, continuing the momentum to include a broad range of stakeholders who are committed to economic, aesthetic and quality of life revitalization, and communicating that Van Ness is open for business. Van Ness Main Street received its first grant from the DC government’s Department of Small and Local Business Development in January 2016 and also hired its first Executive Director.

Current Boundaries for Van Ness Main Street
Van Ness Main Street boundaries are Connecticut Ave. from Albemarle to Van Ness Streets.

To make Van Ness a beautiful, sustainable, walkable, and vibrant economic and cultural hub by supporting the growth of existing businesses, attracting new, local enterprises, and activating local cultural institutions.

Sarah Cumbie, PresidentSarah Cumbie is President for Van Ness Main Street and is a local account manager at WAMU 88.5, where she has been on staff since 2010. In her current position, she works with local businesses and nonprofits to help them raise their profiles in DC, all while raising money for the local NPR affiliate. She is an 11-year resident of DC, and currently resides just blocks from Van Ness Main Street. In her spare time, you can find her watching her beloved Orioles, singing in the choir at St. Stephen and The Incarnation Episcopal Church or testing out a new recipe.

Patricia DaviesPatricia Davies is Chair of the Events Committee. Pat is originally from the UK where she was Managing Director of a professional conference organizing company in London for many years. In 1991 she moved to Washington DC to head up the arrangements for the Annual Meetings of the World Bank Group and the International Monetary Fund, a position she held until her retirement in 2007. Since her retirement she has volunteered with several organizations including Georgetown Ministry Center – a day center for the homeless of which she was President in 2015 and 2016; and Georgetown Presbyterian Church, where she was a Deacon for two years and chaired the Outreach Committee, and an Elder and chair of the Buildings & Grounds Committee from 2015-2017.

In 2009 Pat was diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease and since then she has become involved with several Parkinson’s organizations, including the World Parkinson Coalition, where she is currently a Board member. She has been a member of the Steering Committee for the World Parkinson Congress, and is a Research Advocate for the Parkinson Disease Foundation. In 2016 Pat was named as a Washingtonian of the Year for her service to homeless people in Washington DC. Pat moved to Forest Hills in 2012 and lives on 29th Street.

Matt Dreher
Matthew Dreher is Chair of the Design Committee and is a technical designer at Gensler specializing in Residential and Mixed Use projects in the DC area. Project highlights include the Chinese Embassy Residences on Connecticut Avenue, the Eastern Market Metro Park Master Plan, and the HQ for Marriott International in Bethesda, MD.

The son of a US Diplomat, he has lived in seven counties and has visited an additional fourteen countries. At Gensler, he co-founded a Mentor/Mentee program that assists University Design students to improve oral and graphic presentation skills. Beyond the Gensler office, Matthew teaches Printmaking at Virginia Tech’s Washington Alexandria Architecture Center.

Reginald FeltonMr. Felton is Chair of the Organization Committee and a resident of Van Ness and a member of the UDC Board of Trustees since January 2010. Although a native Washingtonian, Mr. Felton spent his early years in Knoxville, Tennessee.

Felton is President of Felton Associates, L.L.C., providing consulting and lobbying services to not-for-profit organizations and local school boards in the areas of public policy, communications and organizational leadership. Prior to establishing his firm, he served as the Assistant Executive Director for Congressional Relations at the National School Boards Association, Alexandria, VA. At NSBA he was responsible for developing and implementing comprehensive legislative strategies representing the interests of local school boards from across the nation on Capitol Hill and with the Administration.

Felton is very much involved in the community, serving as Vice President, Board of Directors of the George B. Thomas Learning Academy, a nonprofit tutorial program serving over 3,000 students; on the Board of Directors of the Rudolph W. Snowden Memorial Scholarship Fund, providing postsecondary scholarships; and as a member of the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. and the Sigma Pi Phi Fraternity, Inc.

Felton holds a B.A. degree in sociology from Howard University; an M.S. degree in urban studies from Tulane University; and holds certificates from the Federal Executive Institute, the Brooking Institution, and the Harvard Graduate School of Education.

Zachary Friedlis, Secretary
Zachary Friedlis is Secretary of the Board and is Vice President of Leasing at Saul Centers Inc. where he has worked since 2009. He focuses on retail leasing of Saul Centers portfolio of close to 10 million square feet. He works with local, regional, and national tenants to keep the company’s mix of Grocery Anchored, Regional, and Mixed Use Properties leased up. He is also a resident of upper northwest and lives just blocks from the Van Ness Main Street. With Saul Centers having a trophy property in the VNMS and being a neighbor he dually interested in the success and vibrancy of the neighborhood. He is thrilled to be working on this creative and diligent board with the rest of the VNMS Board Members.

Pat Jakopchek, Treasurer
Pat Jakopchek is Treasurer for the Board. Pat moved to Washington in 2008 to pursue his graduate education and has called the 3rd Ward home ever since. Pat was previously Charis of ANC 3F. Pat has prioritized increasing pedestrian safety, preserving community recreational areas, and ensuring responsible development.

Barbara Lardy, Vice PresidentBarbara has over thirty years experience in health care management, research and development. Most recently, prior to retirement, she was Senior Vice President for Clinical Affairs and Strategic Planning for America’s Health Insurance Plans(AHIP) a national trade association representing the health insurance industry. In this role Barbara directed collaborative efforts between AHIP member plans and public and private sector stakeholders on key industry issues, including health care reform, quality, innovation and public health. Prior to moving to Washington DC in 1995, Barbara served as President and CEO of the Group Health Foundation in Seattle for ten years, overseeing both fundraising and grant making operations. Outside of the health care arena, Barbara worked as Director of Development for the University of Washington for several years. She has lived in the Forest Hills neighborhood with her husband Nick for over twenty years and is committed to a vibrant Van Ness.

Michael SandsMichael Sands was born and raised in Washington, DC. In 1998 he joined his father Ed’s business, Calvert Woodley Fine Wines & Spirits, after having worked in the pension plan administration business for four years. He deals with many things at CW, from advertising/marketing to purchasing wine and almost everything in between. He enjoys meeting and helping CW customers with their purchases and is honored to be serving on the Board of VNMS. Michael is a proud Hoosier, holding a BA from Indiana University.

Chuck Schilke
Chuck served on the original Van Ness Vision Committee from its inception, then transitioned into Van Ness Main Street as Treasurer and board member. He is a real estate developer, financier, and lawyer, as well as a professor of real estate development, finance, law, design, and other business and legal subjects. He has worked in real estate at industrial companies like Exxon Mobil, service companies like Marriott, and nonprofits like The American National Red Cross, where he served on the deal team that built the $135 million National Headquarters building, and has also worked at major real estate, finance, and environmental law firms. Chuck founded the Georgetown University real estate program, and grew the program to 50 real estate development and finance courses, 300 students, and 100 real estate practitioner faculty and thesis advisors, then ran the Johns Hopkins real estate program, and begins teaching in the University of Maryland real estate program in fall 2016. Chuck has lived in Van Ness since his arrival from Boston in 1992, greatly values his colleagues on the Van Ness Main Street team, and is dedicated to applying his business, legal, and academic real estate knowledge to improve Van Ness, his home of 25 years, and the lives of the people who live here.

Sandra Stewart
Sandra Stewart has lived in Forest Hills for 6 years with her husband Michael and dog Millie. She owns SLS Coaching & Consulting that was established in 1999 to assist executives to become better leaders, optimize their teams and experience personal and professional growth. She is a teacher of coaching certification at American University and a member of the Board of the International Coach Federation Independent Review Board. She has a BA from Colgate University and an MBA from Columbia University.

Uzay Turker
Uzay Turker was born and raised in Istanbul and came to the U.S 1994. He is the owner and manager of the Acacia Bistro in Van Ness. He lives in Van Ness and was part of Van Ness Vision Committee. He graduated from Dokuz Eylül Üniversitesi and has a degree in hospitality management.

Fred Underwood is currently is an Executive at The Pinkard Group. The Pinkard Group is a local private real estate company that invests opportunistically across a variety of property types in the DC metro area. Previously, Mr. Underwood served as Senior Vice President of Bernstein Management. Prior to joining Bernstein Management Corporation, Mr. Underwood worked in real estate development and leasing for Buchanan Partners, LLC and served as a law clerk to the Justices of the Superior Court of Massachusetts. He received a B.A. from Brown University, a J.D., cum laude, from the American University Washington College of Law, a Master’s degree in Real Estate Finance and Development from Columbia University, and his M.B.A. degree from Cornell University’s Johnson Graduate School of Management. Mr. Underwood lives in Washington with his wife and two children.

Van Ness Main Street has several committees that help provide advise and assistance for the work we do. These committees are comprised of both community members and Van Ness Main Street board members. Committees meet monthly. Interested in serving on a committee? Please email info@vannessmainstreet.org with the word Committee in the subject line.

COMMITTEE OVERVIEWSEvents and Promotions
This committee organizes activities aimed at all age groups to enliven the community, foster a sense of neighborhood, and promote business growth. Examples of events include Art All Night, Jazz @ VN (our monthly jazz nights), music and chef demonstrations at the Saturday Farmer’s Market, and holiday caroling along Connecticut Avenue.

Design
The Design Committee explores opportunities and facilitates projects to improve the physical environment along Connecticut Avenue that enhance the pedestrian experience, showcase our local businesses to grow their commercial success, and provide a positive and inviting visual message about what Van Ness has to offer.

Economic Development
The Economic Development Committee aims to create a vibrant public realm with a diverse retail environment by working to support and enhance current businesses while attracting future establishments that will complement the needs and desires of the Van Ness community. Specific actions include efforts to achieve short and long term activation of vacant retail space, provide technical and other assistance to independently-owned restaurants, and work closely with property owners and neighboring institutions to improve local business conditions.

Organization
The Organization Committee supports and develops the Van Ness Main Street into a sustainable organization through leading the implementation of the strategic funding plan, recruiting and interviewing volunteers for committees, developing new Board membership, and promoting the work of Van Ness Main Street within the community and city-wide.

Van Ness Main Street receives funding from the District of Columbia and is one of 16 Main Streets in the District. DC Main Streets is a comprehensive program that promotes the revitalization of traditional business districts in the District of Columbia. Created in 2002 through the National Trust for Historic Preservation, Main Streets serves as the citywide coordinating program that provides services and funding for the ten Main Streets found in the District of Columbia. Main Streets mission is to support the traditional retail corridors in the District.